CHRIS KINNEAR has thrown his hat into the ring to succeed Andy Ford as Gravesend's manager.

The highly-respected Margate boss, considered to be the outstanding candidate, made no secret of his respect for the Fleet with some fulsome praise for a club he lives a few miles from at nearby Ash.

Asked about the vacancy, Kinnear said: "Gravesend could be as big as anything. Somebody's got to manager the club, why can't I? There is a possibility but it all depends on circumstances."

He added significantly: "I've won most things in non-league football and my next aim is to get part-time players into the play-offs and into the Football League."

Asked if he had applied for the job, he replied: "I've not spoken to anyone at Gravesend because I'm the manager of Margate Football Club."

But Kinnear's outstanding loyalty to a club teetering on the brink of extinction is known to be wearing thin following a succession of disappointments over the redevelopment of Hartsdown Park.

Unless the club satisfies Thanet Council that they can meet the criteria demanded to develop the site, they could go out of business in two weeks.

Kinnear has been at the helm for eight years, guiding them to two promotions and to the top of the Conference three years ago.

But his son, Chris Jnr. Chooses to play for Gravesend's Under-15 side while his father is an old friend of Fleet secretary Roly Edwards.

Brian Kilcullen, Gravesend's chairman, would not be drawn on the subject of Kinnear's candidacy, except to say: "We are aware of his comments and his interest. At our board meeting on Monday we started drawing up a shortlist and have been heartened by the quality of applicants.

"Ideally, we would like to appoint someone in time for the match at Carlisle in two weeks. In the meantime, Steve McKimm and Paul McCarthy will again take charge for Saturday's FA Trophy tie at home to Histon."

The Fleet chairman refuted Ford's claim that it had been the board's reluctance to endorse former Aldershot assistant manager Stuart Cash as his number two that led to his resignation issue."

Meanwhile, the club have appointed Frank Walter as consultant for a three-month period. Mr Walter currently works in the City.

Mr Kilcullen explained: "Because there is so much happening at the club with projects such as Beauwater, negotiations with our landlord and ground criteria, in addition to getting the right replacement for Andy Ford, we needed someone with a wealth of business and sales experience. Frank will bring that to the club."